Beacon for comparatively shallow water, (instead of bouys.)



J. J. IRVING. BEACON FOR GOMPARATIYBLY SHALLOW WATER (INSTEAD OF BUOYS).

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1914.

Patented Aug. 11, 1911 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I. J. IRVING.

BEACON FOR GOMPARATIVELY SHALLOW WATER (INSTEAD OF BUOYS). APPLICATION FILED mm: 9, 1914.

1 1 07 1 97 Patented Aug. 11, 1514.

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7H: NORRIS PETERS C0; FHOTO-LITHOH WASHINGTON. D- C.

JOHN JAMES IRVING, 0F LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

BEACON FOR COMPARATIVELY SHALLOW WATER, (INSTEAD OF BUOYS.)

Specification of letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914:.

Application filed June 9, 1914. Serial No. 844,060.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN JAMES IRVING, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, in the Kingdom of England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beacons for Comparatively Shallow Nater, (Instead of Buoys,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention is for a variety of beacon which can be easily laid in the water in a river or even on a sea bed. It is an improvementon a buoy inasmuch as it will stand higher out of the water and will be a fixture on the exact spot where it is laid. Its height and weight are only limited to what a ships derrick can handle. It can be made to adjust itself to the ground, and being collapsible can easily be lifted if required.

The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the apparatus partially collapsed; Fig. 2, the apparatus in position.

The beacon is formed preferably of a tripod, though of course there could be four or more arms if desired. There is no ad vantage, but a disadvantage however in having more than three. The three legs A A A support the socket B at the top, to which they are hinged. One of these legs can be made with an extension piece, so that if the ground be uneven, the leg can be extended, and thus the socket be brought into the position vertically above the center of the bedding pieces hereafter described. In this socket B the mast or support for carrying a lantern or other signal is fixed. The three. legs can be of channel iron or other like section, or can be made braced as shown or by lattice work. They are hinged to lugs on the socket by means of loosely fitting wrought iron or steel bolts 1. The three legs are also hinged at the bottom as at 2 to three radial arms or baseplates G O C. These three radial baseplates are hinged as at 3 to acentral and preferably concave centerplate D having strong lugs, to which the radial base plates are themselves hinged. These radial arms are preferably channel iron with the flanges pointing downward, or they can be made of angle irons or of lattice work with strong iron flanges or ribs such as E or other attachments pointing downward, or made in the form of a large angle iron. There is an advantage in having them of this latter shape as they are more easily raised from the bed as the sand or mud slips off them better. Also they have a very firm grip of the sand or mud. On these baseplates are lugs firmly riveted to which the legs are attached. In these baseplates also near the ends I may place vertical holes into which strong spikes can be screwed or otherwise attached. These spikes can be put in place at the time of laying the beacon, and give a very much extended grip to the ground. "When the beacon has to be laid on a steep bank I may make one of the legs telescopic or longer than the others, so that the beacon can be made to stand upright, the two isosceles legs being placed on ground of about even height and the other in the deeper water, and adjusted to suit the case.

The arms A may be strengthened at their ends by plates through which the pivot bolts would pass. Elongated pivot holes may be formed in these plates as well as in the ends of the legs A, thus providing a simple means for shortening or lengthening the legs.

The mode of action is as follows :The locality on which the beacon has to be placed having been found, in very simple cases the top socket is simply gripped by the ships derrick, put over the side of the vessel, and lowered. As the central base plate strikes the bottom, the weight of the legs and radial base plates cause the latter to spread out and fall on the ground, the flanges dig into the ground, as also do the spikes if they have been applied. The legs too unfold outwardly so as to form a strong tripod. The mast or support with its cage or light is then placed in the socket and thoroughly secured by bolts.

In the drawing I have shown in dotted lines a chain H which is connected at its 'lower end to the center plate D. The upper end passes through a reduced part at the bottom of the bore of the socket B, and is provided with a ring, larger than the links, which will not drop through the reduced part of the bore. Now by hauling up the chain H the arms G are folded up inside the arms A. This arrangement has the advantage of making the folded length shorter. l/Vhen the chain H is provided the center plate D has no flange at its base, or the pivot lugs project sufliciently beyond the flange to allow of the folding.

In some instances, specially when the'beacon is of the lantern type arranged on a tall support or mast, it is advisable to provide this latter at a convenient distance below the lantern, with a platform and railing of known type, together with a ladder, the lower end of which may rest on one of the legs A.

I declare that what I claim is 1. A support for beacons and the like, comprising a socket member, a center base plate, radial channel irons having downwardly extending flanges pivoted at their inner ends to the center base plate, and upwardly extending angle irons pivoted at their lower ends to the base plates intermediate the ends of the latter, and at their upper ends pivoted to the socket member, and means for collapsing it.

2. A support for beacons and the like, comprising a socket member, a center base plate, radial channel irons having downwardly extending flanges pivoted at their inner ends to the center base plate, and upwardly extending angle irons pivoted at their lower ends to the base plates adjacent the outer ends oi": the latter, and at their up per ends pivoted to the socket member, a ring in the socket member, and a chain connecting the center base piece with the ring, with means in the socket for preventing the falling of the ring.

in witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 30th day of May 1914:, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN JAMES IRVING.

lVitnesses RICHARD W. YVILLIAMS, MYLns HAiLEs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latcnts, Washington, D. G. 

